A SUSPECTED drug pusher was killed yesterday during a shootout with police, who were conducting a buy-bust in Barangay Mantuyong, Mandaue City.

Ricky Potot was shot several times after he and members of Police Station 1 allegedly exchanged fire past 3 pm. In Sitio Ihawan.

The 36-year-old was on the station’s drug watch list.

Senior Insp. Hugo Ipong, chief of Police Station 1, said a police decoy bought a sachet of illegal drugs from the Potot.

Another arrest

When the suspect sensed that he was transacting with a police officer, he allegedly pulled out a gun that was tucked in his waistband and fired at the police, Ipong said.

They fired back.

“He fought back. We already visited his house through our Tokhang operation, but he never surrendered. It was already reported by the barangay that he continued selling illegal drugs. It is really clear that he was the only one left selling because others had surrendered,” Ipong said in Cebuano.

Potot was brought to the Mandaue City Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Police recovered a .38 revolver and seven sachets of suspected shabu from Potot’s possession.

During the operation, police also arrested Julius Umbao after they seized two sachets of illegal drugs from him.

Umbao was detained at the station’ detention cell.

In Lapu-Lapu City, Luz Bensi, a 54-year-old employee of the Karancho Beach Resort, was shot several times by unknown assailants while she was on her way home last Tuesday night.

She had just arrived in Purok Butterfly, Barangay Babag when two men on a motorcycle fired at her.

Enemies

Police Senior Insp. Zenaido Pastorfide Jr., head of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LCPO) Homicide Section, said the victim had parked her van in a garage near her house before the gunmen arrived.

She was walking to her house, accompanied by her helper Felce Catane, when the ambush took place.

The gunmen also took her two shoulder bags with cash, jewelry and copies of court resolutions.

Pastorfide said they will talk to the victim’s lawyer regarding the case the victim filed against her previous employer, who allegedly failed to give her salary.

“The victim reportedly had several enemies,” he said.

Pastorfide said Bensi was an ex-wife of a retired policeman assigned in the LCPO.

Bensi was declared dead when she was brought to the Lapu-Lapu City Hospital.